Lever releasable closure for bottles or the like



y 1965 D. J. BRbcKHAGE 3,197,056

LEVER RELEASABLE CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 17, 1964 E 2: 2s l/ m/nw TOR Dom/u 0 J BPOC/(A/AGE United States Patent 3,197,056 LEVER RELEASABLE CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES OR THE LIKE Donald J. Eroclrhage, 82E Everitt St., El Cerrito, Calif. Filed Feb. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 345,345 6 Claims. (Cl. 215-46) This invention relates to lever releasable closures for bottles or the like which are manually removable without the use of an opener or other tool in response to pulling of a lever tab, and is particularly directed to a tear-off cap or other closure which is readily removable from a bottle or other container in response to an upward tearing of a lever tab provided on the closure.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 190,849, filed April 20, 1962, now Patent No. 3,121,506, granted February 18, 1964, and hereby incorporates by reference pertinent subject matter disclosed therein.

Briefly, the above referenced copending application relates to a manually removable crown cap wherein a pleated section is integrally provided in the top of the cap. The pleated section includes a top portion which is parallel, or substantially parallel, to the top wall of the cap. Side wall structure of the pleated section including opposed reentrant pleat portions in substantially close relationship to the top wall of the cap merge with the side edges of the top portion of the pleated section and with the top wall of the cap on opposite sides of a part or other opening provided therein which register with the pleated section. When such a cap is positioned with its depending peripheral flange gripping the crown of a bottle, tension is set up across the top of the cap and top of the pleated section and through the flange which tends to urge the flange out of gripping engagement with the crown. However, the tension is sumciently opposed by compressive force normally established .in the reentrant pleat portions of the pleated section that the tensile strength of the cap material is not exceeded. The flange consequently is normally retained in effective gripping engagement with the crown of the bottle in a comparable manner to a conventional cap. Removal of the cap, however, is readily and simply effected without the aid of an opener or other tool merely by applying an upward force to the top portion of the pleated section. Such force establishes tension in the reentrant pleat portions and induces bending stress in the pleated section. The bending stress suiiiciently weakens the overall tensile strength of the top of the cap that same yields to the tension. The gripping force of the cap flange is thus no longer opposed and the flange is thereby released out of engagement with the crown of the bottle.

In various embodiments of the cap of the previously referenced copending application, a lever tab was integrally provided at one end of the top portion of the pleated section to depend therefrom and fill a cut-away portion of the flange in conformed relation thereto. Such a tab was substantially rigid with respect to the top portion of the pleated section and served, without bending, to transmit upward thumb pressure to the top portion of the pleated section in effecting release of the cap. The present invention is generally similar to the extent that a cap or other peripherally flanged closure i provided which has a pleated section in the top thereof with an integral lever tab depending from one end of the top portion of the pleated section and filling a cut-away portion of the flange in conformed relation thereto. Unlike the previous caps, however, the lever tab of the present closure is not rigid with respect to the top portion of the pleated section, but rather is intentionally made to be selectively and readily bendable in the region of merger 3.,l97fi55 Patented July 27, 1965 between the tab and top portion proper. Such a selectively bendable tab facilitates a more efiective leverage action on the top portion of the pleated section when the tab is in upwardly bent substantially horizontal position. More importantly, the selectively bendable tab facilitates release of the tension in the top of the cap by means of a somewhat different mechanism in the pleated section than that employed heretofore. In this latter regard the cap tension, and therefore the cap flange may be released by severing weakened sections provided along the reentrant pleat portions of the pleated section in response to upward bending of the tab. In other Words, the cap is released by bending and tearing the lever tab upwardly and across the top of the pleated section.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lever tab operated tear-off cap or peripherally flanged closure for bottles or similar containers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cap or the like having a pleated section by means of which tension across the cap and the gripping action of the flange is released in response to upward bending of a lever tab associated with the pleated section.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a cap of the class described which is capable of being applied to bottles with a conventional capper.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a cap or other closure of the class described wherein notches or grooves longitudinally of the reentrant pleat portions serve to weaken same only to tensile and shear stresses but not to compressive stress, whereby the weakened pleat portions will not break open during crowning or handling, yet will readily sever when the lever tab is bent and lifted upwardly.

A further object of the invention is the provision af a cap of the class described which is simple and economical in construction.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a plan vie-w of a crown cap in accordance with the invention as applied to a bottle.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken at line 22 of FIGURE 1, with the cap in unactuated gripping relation to the crown of the bottle.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 33 of FIGURE 2, illustrat ng particularly the pleated section of the cap in flattened unactuated position.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, but with the lever tab bent upwardly and the pleated section of the cap in actuated tension releasing condition.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 55 of FIGURE 4, illustrating particularly the severed reentrant plate portions of the pleated section Whereby cap tension is released.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, but of a modified form of bendable tension releasing lever tab in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of the side of the closure as viewed from the right in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of the cap showing a slightly modified form of the closure.

Referring now to the drawing, the invention will be seen to be embodied in a crown cap 11, although it is to be noted that the invention applies equally as well to other types of caps or peripherally flanged closures. The cap 11 comprises a substantially flat circular top wall 12 with a corrugated peripheral flange 13 depending therefrom. In the sealed attachment of the cap to a bottle, as illustrated in part at 14, the flange engages the crown 16 of the bottle with the lower part or the flange corrugations extending inwardly thereunder in the usual manner. The usual flexible sealing gasket 17 of cork or the like, is likewise provided on the underside of the top wall 12, as may be a pressure tight sealing disc 1% supplemental to the gasket.

The cap 11 further includes a pleated section 19 which is integral with the top wall 12 and is of the general type disclosed by the previously referenced copending application Serial No. 190,849. Basically, therefore an opening, in the present instance a diametric part 21, provided in top wall 12 registers with the pleated section. The pleated section generally comprises a top portion 2?. disposed in bridging relation to the opening and side wall structure 23 integrally connecting the side edges of the top portion with top wall 12 at the sides of the opening. The side wall structure includes opposed reentrant pleat portions 24, 25 extending inwardly from the side edges of the top portion 22 and merging with the side edges of the opening. In the present instance'the top portion 22, reentrant pleat portions 24, 26, and top wall 12 are in horizontal parallel respectively stacked abutting relationship as best shown by FIGURE 3. The top may be generally rectangular or as here shown tapers to substantially a point 27 at a location on the top wall slightly inwardly spaced from the cap periphery.- Variousdepartures from the specific structure of the pleated section illustrated in the drawing and just described are also applicable to the present invention, such as the various specific pleated section embodiments of copendin application Serial No. 190,849. No matter what the specific structure, the gripping force of the flange 13in engagcent its juncture with the top portion of the pleated section so as to be selectively bendable thereat. The tab may consequently be grasped between the thumb and forefinger, for example, and pulled upwardly whereupon the tab bends into substantial alignment with the top portion of the pleated section. Further pulling of the tab upwardly results in the application of an upward force to the top portion of the pleated section with relatively increased efi'iciency. Furthermore, the bendable tab makes possible release of the cap by a novel tearing action in the pleated section. Such a tear-oil cap is described in detail below.

The ear-off closure embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES 1-5 of the drawing. As shown therein, the top portion 22 of pleated section 19 is provided with an integral lever tab 28 depending from the end thereof which is opposite to point 27. The tab fills a cutaway portion 29 of the flange 13 and is generally conformed to the flange. The tab is preferably formed with a pair of parallel spaced-apart rib 31. Such ribs extend longitudinally along the tab in at least the region of transition between the tab and top portion and are spaced slightly inward from the side edges of the tab. The ribs 31 terminate at the top portion ZZsubstantially at the juncture thereof with the tab. The rib terminations are designated by the numeral 32 and will be seen ing the crown 16 of the bottle is maintained by an overall tension force across the top of the cap. In this regard, the top wall 12 and top portion 22 of the pleated section are in tension while the pleat portions 24, 26 are in compression, and the net tension across the cap is insuflicient to overcome the tensile strength thereof. To release the flange from the crown of the bottle, the tension across the top of the tap is released. In accordance with the basic considerations of the previously referenced copending application, tension, and therefore the gripping force of theflange is released by application of upward force to the top portion of the pleated section. Such force may be considered to induce tension in the pleat portions of the pleated section such that the overall tension then existing across the top of the cap is increased sufficiently to exceed the tensile strength of the top of the cap. Alternatively, the force may be considered to induce bending stress in the pleaded section which thus decreases the tensile strength of the top of the cap sufficiently that it yields to the tension. In any event, the cap is released in response to thumb pressure or an equivalent force being upwardly applied to the top portion of the pleated section.

Heretofore various embodiments of caps of the type described to this point have been provided with lever tabs integrally depending from the top portion of the pleated section and filling a cut-away portion of the cap flange in conformed relation thereto. As noted previously, these lever tabs have been substantially rigid in their association with the top portion of the pleated section,'and as a consequence have been relatively inefiicient in transmitting an upward cap releasing force to the top portion of the pleated section. The closure of the present invention is similar to the extent that the top portion of the pleated section has an integral depending lever tab which fills a cut-away portion of the flange in conformed relation thereto. However, in accordance with the basic aspects of the invention, the tab is weakened at a location adjatab structure.

to define slight recesses with respect to the top portion. It will be appreciated that the rib terminations constitute weakened portions of, the tab at which bending occurs when the tab is pulled upwardly. In this regard the tab may be pulled upwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 2 whereupon bending occurs at the rib endings 32 and the tab becomes positioned substantially in alignment with top portion 22, as shown in FIGURE 4. As an. extremely important feature of the present embodiment, a pair of weakened lines or grooves 33 are provided in the reentrant pleat portions 24, 26 in slightly inwardly spaced parallel relation to the side edges of the top portion 22.. Such grooves are preferably formed in the faces of the pleat portions which abut top wall 12, as best shown in FIGURE 3. The lines 33 comprise weakened sections of the pleat portions and extend substantially the entire lengths thereof from positions subjacent the rib endings 32. It is particularly important to note that the lines 33 weaken the pleat portions 24, 26 only to tensile and shear stresses, but not to compressive stress. Consequently, the pleat portions will not break during capping operations or handling, the pleat portions being at this time in compression. However, when the lever tab is pulled upwardly, tension is efficiently applied to the end of the pleat portions which are adjacent the tab, the fulcrum of the tab as defined by the rib endings 32 immediately overlying same. This tension initiates tearing of the pleat portions along the weakened lines 33. As upward pulling of the tab is continued, tearing of the pleat portions continues across the top of the cap. Such tearing of the pleat portions of course releases the tension in the cap and hence releases the flange from the crown of the bottle. FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate the cap in torn condition.

. Referring now to FIGURE 6, there will be seen to be provided a modified form of closure in accordance with the invention. Such closure is generally similar to that of FIGURES 1-5 and similar portions thereof are designated by primed like numerals. The principal departuresfrom the previous embodiment reside in the pleated section19f of cap 11' having pleat portions which do not include weakened sections and modified bendable lever More particularly, lever tab 28 has ribs 311' with endings 32 which arcuately terminate substantially centrally of a curved transition region between the tab and top portion 22. of the pleated section. In addition a pair of ribs 34 are provided on the top portion 22' adjacent the transition region. Ribs 34 are aligned with ribs 31' and have arcuate endings 35 of opposite curvature to rib endings 32'. The cusp shaped intersections 37 between the rib endings 32' and 36 define a fold line between the lever tab and top portion of the pleated section. Such fold line is initially the fulcrum of the tab 28 as same is bent upwardly from the full line to the phantom line position thereof illustrated in FZGURE 6 wherein the tab is substantially horizontal and parallel to the top portion 22'. In this latter position the arcuate rib endings 32' and 36 abut and the fulcrum of the tab is hence transmitted through the ribs to the termination of the ribs 36 with the top portion of the pleated section. Further upward bending of the tab thus results in the efiicient application of an upward force to the top portion of the pleated section. Such upward force places the pleat portions of the pleated section in tension whereby the overall tensile force across the cap top exceeds the tensile strength thereof. The tension is thus released as is the gripping force of the flange on the crown 1.6 of the bottle or other container.

In FIGURE 8, a somewhat modified form of the closure is shown. In this embodiment, the opening 29 provided in the flange 13 is in the form of a narrow slit in which the opposed side edges 38 thereof are in substantial contact, the tab being arranged to overlap and cover the slit.

What is claimed is:

1. A manually removable closure comprising a top wall and depending peripheral flange, said top wall having a pleated section integrally formed therein, said pleated section including a top portion and side wall structure integrally connecting said top portion to said top Wall of said closure, said side wall structure including opposed reentrant pleat portions, said pleat portions having weakened lines extending substantially the length thereof in parallel relation to the side edges of said top portion, said top portion having an integral lever tab depending from one end thereof, said lever tab being selectively bendable at a position adjacent the juncture of the tab with said top portion.

2. A manually removable closure comprising a top wall and depending peripheral flange, said top wall having a pleated section integrally formed therein, said pleated section including a top portion and side wall structure integrally connecting said top portion to said top wall of said closure, said side wall structure including opposed reentrant pleat portions, said top portion, said pleat portions, and said top wall being in parallel stacked abutting relationship, said top portion having an integral lever tab depending from one end thereof, said lever tab being selectively bendable at a position adjacent the juncture of the tab with said top portion.

3. A closure according to claim 2, wherein said pleat portions have weakened sections extending substantially the length thereof in parallel relation to the side edges of said top portion.

4. A crown cap comprising a top wall and depending peripheral flange, said top wall having a pleated section, said pleated section having a top portion and side wall structure including opposed reentrant pleat portions integrally connecting the side edges of said top portion to said top wall on opposite sides of an opening therein, said top portion, said pleat portions and said top wall being disposed in parallel stacked abutting relationship, said pleat portions having weakened lines extending the lengths thereof in parallel relation to the side edges of said top portion, said top portion having an integral lever tab depending from an end thereof, said tab having parallel spaced ribs extending longitudinally thereof and terminating adjacent the juncture of said tab and top portion in overlying relation to said grooves.

5. A crown cap according to claim 4, further defined by said top portion having side edges tapering to a point at the opposite end thereof from said tab, said point inwardly spaced from said flange.

6. A crown cap comprising a top wall and depending peripheral flange, said top wall having a pleated section, said pleated section having a top portion and side wall structure including opposed reentrant pleat portions integrally connecting the side edges of said top portion to said top wall on opposite sides of an opening therein, said top portion, said pleat portions, and said top wall being disposed in parallel stacked abutting relationship, said top portion having an integral lever tab depending from an end thereof, said tab having parallel spaced ribs ex tending longitudinally thereof with arcuate rib endings terminating substantially centrally of a transition region between said tab and said top portion, said top portion having ribs in alignment with the ribs of said tab, said ribs of said top portion having arcuate rib endings of opposite curvature to the rib endings of said tab, said rib endings of said tab and of said top portion having cusp shaped intersections, said ribs of said top portion merging with the top portion at a location immediately adjacent said transition region.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,706,561 3/29 Church 215--46 3,121,506 2/ 64 Brockhage 21546 FOREIGN PATENTS 43 2,9 82 4/48 Italy. 556,649 2/ 57 Italy.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MANUALLY REMOVABLE CLOSURE COMPRISING A TOP WALL AND DEPENDING PERIPHERAL FLANGE, SAID TOP WALL HAVING A PLEATED SECTION INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREIN, SAID PLEATED SECTION INCLUDING A TOP PORTION AND SIDE WALL STRUCTURE INTERGRALLY CONNECTING SAID TOP PORTION TO SAID TOP WALL OF SAID CLOSURE, SAID SIDE WALL STRUCTURE INCLUDING OPPOSED REENTRANT PLEAT PORTIONS, SAID PLEAT PORTIONS HAVING WEAKENED LINES EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH THEREOF IN PARALLEL RELATION TO THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID TOP PORTION, SAID TOP PORTION HAVING AN INTEGRAL LEVER TAB DEPENDING FROM ONE END THEREOF, SAID LEVER TAB BEING SELECTIVELY BENDABLE AT A POSITION ADJACENT THE JUNCTURE OF THE TAB WITH SAID 